Clip



G. B. DUSINB ERRE.

CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 19!].

1,356,491. Patent/ad Oct. 19,1920.

mil l 7'05 7/ /7 3. 1 1 MI m; L MI' H 5 17; 11 1a a. I E m {I I ,0 70 I0 I05 100 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. DUSINBERRAE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO RALPH S. MUELLER. l

CLIP.

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented O t. 19 192() Application filed February 8, 1917. Serial No. 147,364.

\hoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clips, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

This invention relates to clips, and in certain respects is an improvement over the clip constituting the subject matter of my prior Patent No. 963325, patented July 5, 1910.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clip, one or both jaws of which are inherently resilient so that the necessity for an auxiliary spring is eliminated, and which can be easily and quickly assembled or taken apart if need be, without bending or otherwise deforming the parts after they have been stamped out of the sheet metal.

The clip constituting the subject matter of this invention may be used for a Variety of purposes, such, for example, as for making electrical connections as described in my prior patent, or it may be used for any other purposes for which clips, fasteners and holders are generally employed.

This clip is composed of two metal parts or strips, one, but preferably both of which are formed of resilient or spring material and which not only have their forward jaw portions crossed as in my patent, but also have their rear portions crossed for the purpose of forming what I term the reactive base between the strips, and to hold them together or in alinement.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set. forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the clip; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4: are a side and a plan view. of the bottom piece or strip of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side and plan view of the upper strip of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the clip' as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the rear portion of the .clip showing the manner in which the two strips are held in normal operative relationship; and Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the purpose of the peculiarly shaped slot in one strip and through which the tongue of the cooperating strip-is extended, and also the manner in which the two parts are moved or manipulated to cross the forward portions of the strips and to finally position the strips in their normal relative posltlons.

Iieferring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the clip is composed of two strips 10 and 11 which are preferably both formed of resilient or spring metal, these strips being preferably punched out of sheet or rolled metal. It is not essential, however, that both strips be inherently resilient as fairly good results can be secured if one only is resilient. These strips are provided with main portions 10 and 11 between their for ward and rear ends, which portions are designed to be pressed together or toward each other when it is desired to spread the jaws. In addition the strips are provided with what I term forward crossed portions 10 and 11 and oppositely disposed gripping jaws 10 and 11. The front edges, or the front and side edges of these jaws may be serrated or toothed to form good gripping, biting or clamping edges. In this case the crossing of the portions 10 and 11 is brought about by providing oppositely disposed notches in the two strips so that the crossed portions are of less width, and in fact, approximately half the width of the jaws 10 and 11-and of the main or intermediate portions 10. and 11. However, while it is essential that the forward portions of the clip which join or merge into the jaws 10 and 11 be crossed, the crossing of these portions may be brought about in a different manner than here shown.

It will be observed also, that the rear portions of the strips are crossed as well as the forward portions, that is to say, the strip Y of strip 10 and parallel to the rearwardly projecting portion of the strip 10, the last named portion extending beyond the end of the tongue as shown in Fig. 1. The slot 1O has its rear edge at an angle to the front edge for a pur-- for any fastening device separate from thestrips themselves, and without bending or otherwise deforming the strips after theyhave been placed together in their proper relative positions. This is an important feature, although the strips may be held in alinement by other means than-here shown, providing the strips have their rear portions crossed as well as their forward portions, the crossing of the rear as well as the forward portions being the essential and broadest feature of the invention as 'previously stated. It will be observed at this point that at the base of the tongue 1190f the strip 11 are shoulders 11 which engage the under side of the strip 10 adjacent the slot 10 Having now described the construction of j the clip in its preferred form and ready for use. with the parts assembled as in Fig. 1, I desire to explain the manner in which the parts are assembled and locked or held in proper operative relationship, this being advisable in order to clearly explain the importance and function of the rear crossed portions. To assemble the parts, that is to form the clip from the two strips. shaped as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the tongue 11 is extended through the slot 10 it being assumed that the strip 11 is beneath the strip 10 as the clip is viewed in Fig. 1. Before the forward portions are crossed, and in fact, before the jaws are close to each other, the tongue 11 lies fiat along the rear part the shoulders 11 engage the lower face or side of the clip adjacent the slot 10. This is important in order that the strips will be under tension before the'jaws are crossed, and even before they are brought close to each other. The lower strip 11is then swung laterally at an angle to the strip 10 (see Fig. 9) until the jaws will clear each other, so that the forward portions 10 and 11 can be crossed, the inclined rear edge of the slot 10* permitting this angular relative swinging .movement, and then the two stri s are pressed toward each other so that what was formerly the lower jaw is above what was formerly the upper jaw; in other words, so that the portions 10 and 11 are crossed. When this is done, the two strips are, of course, placed under increased tension and the\tongue 11 at the rear end of strip 11 is pressed very firmly down onto the flat rear extension of strip 10. Next the strips are swung relatively inward toward each other into the same plane, or so that one will overlie the other, bringing the one jaw directly above the other, and when the parts are in precise alinement the projecting ridge 11 on the lower face of the tongue 11 snaps into the elongated recess 10, forming a lock which positively holds the strips in alinement or in proper operative relationship. When the parts are thus assembled, the movement of the strips toward and from each other to spread or permit the jaws to approach each other does not affect the interlocking engagement of the rear portions of the strips. In fact, when the intermediate portions 10- and 11 are moved toward each other to spread the jaws, the tongue is pressed all the more firmly against the face of the .companion piece; in other words, the greater the tension that is placed in the strips, the more firmly the rear crossed portions hold or grip each other.

This clip is efficient in action, but at the same time it is extremely easy to make and assemble, and is therefore relatively inexpensive, the low cost being due to the fact that no auxiliary spring is required to give the jaws their resiliency or tension and because no bending or deforming of the strips is required to hold or lock them in alinement or in operative relationship after they are, assembled in the manner, explained above.

As before stated, this clip may be used fora variety of purposes, but it is especially adapted as an elect'rical connection clip, and when so used a conductor will be attached to the rear end of the strip 10, the strip being shown as provided with a hole or opening 10 which is designed to be threaded to receive a screw for the attachment of an electrical conductor.

It should be noted that the width of the slot 10 at the narrow end thereof is substantially equal to the thickness of the tongue 11 which projects through this slot. With this construction the members 10 and 11 can have no relative sliding movement and therefore the crossing parts formed by the extension of the tongue through "the slot, assist the projection 11 in holding the two members of the clip in their proper operative-- relationship.

While I have shown merely the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that certain changes may be made in the details of construction, especially in the manner in which the rear crossed porti ns are fastened or locked to ether to maintain the strips in alinement. therefore do not wish to be confined to the exact details or arrangements shown, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a spring clip, a pair of metal members having crossed portions with jaws at their forward ends pressed together by the tension imposed in the metal, and at their rear ends having relatively fixed overlying portions forming a reactive base, and in turn held together against movement in any direction by the tension imposed in the metal.

2. In a spring clip, a pair of metal members havin crossed portions with jaws at their forward ends pressed together by the tension imposed in the metal, and at their rear ends having relatively fixed overlying portions forming a reactive base, and in turn held together by the tension imposed in the metal, and means forming an interlock by which the rear ends of said members are automatically locked together when they are assembled in their normal relative positions.

3. In a spring clip, two metal members having forward crossed portions with jaws at their free ends pressed together by the inherent resiliency of the metal, the rear end of the clip having portions with locking parts wvhich snap into interlocking relationship when the two members are moved into their proper relative positions, and prevent relative movement between said rear portions.

4. In a spring clip, two metal members having forward crossed portions with jaws at their free ends pressed together by the inherent resiliency of the metal, the rear parts of the members having portions which are pressed together by the resiliency of the metal, and having an interlock which snaps into locking relationship when the members are moved to normal relative positions and serves to prevent relative movement between said rear parts of the members.

5. Ina spring clip, two metal members having their forward and rear portions detent that snaps into the depression when I the rea portions of the two members are crossed and the twomembers are swung into alinement.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE B. DUSINBERRE. 

